# Universal Remote vs TV Remote ∙ Universal Control

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Universal Remote at 33% against TV Remote ∙ Universal Control's 10%. TV Remote ∙ Universal Control's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (33K vs 7.8K). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Universal Remote sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and TV Remote ∙ Universal Control sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

TV Remote ∙ Universal Control holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.8K and 33K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Universal Remote's written reviews are positive against 10% of TV Remote ∙ Universal Control's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Universal Remote ships an update monthly, TV Remote ∙ Universal Control every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Universal Remote | TV Remote ∙ Universal Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (7.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1537510382/reviews) | **[4.5 (33K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1545927900/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7.8K | **33K** |
| Positive reviews | **32.7% of reviews** | 10.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 223 MB | 116 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [UNIVERSAL REMOTE LABS COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524909391) | [Fiision Studio Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/674479868) |

## What reviewers say

### Universal Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-tv-control/id1537510382)

Control all your smart TVs and streaming devices from your phone. Offers quick navigation, app access, and gesture controls for a seamless remote experience. Compatible with major brands.

**Highlights:** Control smart TVs and streaming devices, Full-featured remote with essential buttons, Channel and volume control, One-tap access to popular apps, Swipe-based gesture controls, Quick WiFi pairing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Responsive and fast
- 🎨 Seamless pairing with devices
- 💡 Useful as a backup remote

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔌 Unreliable connection to devices
- 📢 Intrusive ads and constant upsells

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to find or connect to TV
- Purchased features not activating
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Restoration of purchases not working

**Requested features**

- Customizable button layout
- Support for more TV brands
- Ability to control smart home devices
- Improved Apple Watch integration


### TV Remote ∙ Universal Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-remote-universal-control/id1545927900)

Control Samsung, LG, Roku, and Sony smart TVs with your smartphone. This universal remote app allows you to navigate menus, launch channels, and manage your TV settings effortlessly. It supports models from 2012 to the present, transforming your device into a powerful remote.

**Highlights:** Control Samsung, LG, Roku, and Sony TVs, Supports models from 2012 to present, Launch favorite TV channels, Navigate smart TV menus, Ad-free premium experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Universal Remote: Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Universal Remote: Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium | $6.99 | per month |
| Universal Remote: Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Universal Remote: Monthly Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Universal Remote: Yearly Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Universal Remote: Yearly Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Universal Remote: Yearly Pro | $34.99 | per year |
| Universal Remote: Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick and easy to use
- ⭐ Works well with Samsung TVs
- 💻 Convenient remote control from phone

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Requires TV remote for initial setup
- 💰 Paid subscription required for full functionality
- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and sync issues
- 📢 Intrusive ads and constant upselling
- ⚠️ Unreliable and inconsistent performance

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes during use
- Unable to connect to some Samsung TV models
- Purchased subscription not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to control TV without physical remote
- More customization options for button layout
- Improved stability and reliability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Universal Remote free?

Universal Remote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is TV Remote ∙ Universal Control free?

TV Remote ∙ Universal Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Universal Remote or TV Remote ∙ Universal Control?

TV Remote ∙ Universal Control is rated higher. Universal Remote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 7.8K ratings, while TV Remote ∙ Universal Control averages 4.5 from 33K ratings.

### Do Universal Remote or TV Remote ∙ Universal Control have ads?

Both Universal Remote and TV Remote ∙ Universal Control show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Universal Remote or TV Remote ∙ Universal Control?

Universal Remote ships an update monthly, and TV Remote ∙ Universal Control every 3 weeks. Most recently, Universal Remote was updated on September 25, 2026 and TV Remote ∙ Universal Control on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*